Unionist's bomb joke backfires

[Islander Jock]

By John Masanauskas and Ben Packham
November 12, 2004

A TOP Victorian union official is expected to be charged after he allegedly joked about a bomb on board a Qantas aircraft yesterday.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union industrial officer Maurice Addison allegedly made the comments at Melbourne airport while boarding an early morning flight to Sydney.

It is believed Mr Addison joked to fellow unionists about one of them putting a bomb on board the plane.

The alleged comment was overheard by crew members and Mr Addison and his stowed luggage were removed from the aircraft, delaying the flight by about 30 minutes.

Federal police questioned Mr Addison and he is expected to be charged with an offence under the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991.

Under the Act, a false threat carries a maximum two-year jail term, while a person convicted of making a violent threat against crew members faces up to 14 years' jail.

Mr Addison, 47, played a key role in the expulsion of former AMWU state secretary Craig Johnston from the union.

Johnston is serving nine months in jail for leading violent raids against two Melbourne companies.

It's understood Mr Addison was travelling to Sydney yesterday to meet the union's national secretary, Doug Cameron, and other union officials.

Mr Addison declined to comment on the incident, but an AMWU statement said that the union supported his removal from the plane and would seek an explanation.

"The AMWU understands that the employee was making a light-hearted comment to a colleague which Qantas staff viewed as a potential security breach," the statement said.

A Qantas spokeswoman said a man was removed from flight 408 after making inappropriate comments to a captain and flight attendant.

"Qantas will not accept any inappropriate comments as jokes and will seek the full force of the law," she said.

A federal police spokeswoman said a man's luggage was removed from the aircraft hold to ensure there was no threat.

Sources told the Herald Sun that Mr Addison was detained after being confronted aboard the plane by the Qantas captain.

The sources said Mr Addison allegedly refused to clarify his comments to the captain.

Herald Sun

And I'll lay a bet that he gets off with a p1ss ant fine which no doubt will be paid either directly or indirectly from the funds of union members

[EPIRB]

But he'll still have a criminal record and that may affect some of his aspirations within the trade union movement.

[The_Cutest_of_Borg]

The story, as related by the report and a friend of mine who was on flight, is substantively correct.

If this guy thought he was joking, then he should have said so when confronted by the Captain. He didn't, became belligerent and was escorted from the flight to general approval from the passengers and even his own traveling companions who gave the Captain a big thumbs up when they left the flight in Sydney.

His belligerence continues on TV this morning as he claims the pilot picked the wrong guy for a fight in this case. That remains to be seen but I hope he gets the book thrown at him even though I suspect he won't.

[Lodown]

EPIRB, I would have thought a criminal record was a required qualification in some unions.

[EPIRB]

That's why I said "some" of his aspirations.

[smokestak]

Any ideas where one may be able to get a copy of the crimes (aviation) act.

I would be interested to have a read and clarify some details re: powers of arrest etc.

Have had some experience recently with APS being reluctant to take people into custody for inappropriate behaviour.

Had similar tales from guys re: smoking on board, being disruptive etc.

Any one else had similar woes?

[Woomera]

It's the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991.

You can Google for it or start here. (http://www.judcom.nsw.gov.au/lcdb/law.php?bolcode=795&init=C)

That is the enabling Act. You may also wish to read the Crimes (Aviation) Regulations.

Woomera

[karrank]

Almost as funny as walking into a bank with a motorcycle helmet on and shouting, "I bet you'd be worried if I had a GUN!!!" What a farkwit, deserves whatever he gets. Fully support the airline taking it perfectly seriously. Now for flippancy.

I know lots of people have been hammered for just the same stupid "joke", but I still have to bite back the urge to say something witty about bombs when boarding an aircraft. I suspect this dates back to our caveman ancestors who would wave a heavy stick threateningly within view of the family mastodon before boarding for the morning commute.

It might help the well being of people about to locked in an aluminium box and fired in the sky if the cabin crew looked a little less supremely confident when prospective passengers are quaking. Not to actually look frightened, just a little less smug:8

[Buster Hyman]

With any luck, we'll next hear about him organising the Prisoners to pickett the shower block due to a lack of "soap on a rope"!

[Sunfish]

In LAX the screeners confiscated a one and a half inch toy pistol on my son's keyring. I protested until the guy explained that there ARE weapons that small and demonstrated how it could be used to threaten cabin staff. I threw it in the bin.

I was in Honolulu last year and warned a first time Canadian passenger to turn off his video camera in the customs hall with the usual response of getting told to f&*^ off. He was very very lucky to get away with a tongue lashing by an extremly large and voluble U.S. Customs lady and the surrender of his holiday video tape.

Some people learn, some people don't